When I turned 40 (late September in 2015) I bought Imperial Assault as a present for myself. Only played once so far, but I have managed to paint up a few of the rebel heroes. Here’s a photo of them, that I planned to use in the Lead Painters League on LAF. I decided against participating though, as it’s just too much stress painting with a deadline. That stress also helped me finish these up, but I digress…

With the data tapes secured, Gideon Argus and company get their bad feelings confirmed as blaster fire rains down on them.

The aim was to stay true to the artwork on the cards (for quick identification), but with a reduced palette (for quick painting). It worked out pretty well. I also rebased them on the metal washers I use for all my miniatures, with the same simple basing scheme. If I ever want to mix them with models from other ranges, that won’t be a problem.

Fenn Signis. What a boring model. It doesn’t convey any air of space bad-ass at all. The design on the card is alright, but the sculpt is terribly dull.

Fenn Signis, Imperial Assault.

Character card for reference.

Jyn Odan. I like this model more. It’s a bit of a goofy stance, but at least there’s some character to the model. It reminds me a bit of Judge Dredd sky-surfers.

Jyn Odan, Imperial Assault

Character card for reference.

Gaarkhan. Yawn. The prequels sort of ruined wookiees (amongst other things) and the design of this guy suffers from it. It was fun painting wookiee feet though… I used an old Citadel Brown Wash, so he’s rather shiney. Soul-glo?

Garrkhan, Imperial Assault

Character card for reference.

Diala Passil. I’m a Star Wars nerd who doesn’t like Jedi knights. How about that? As with wookiees, the prequels ruined the whole Jedi thing with the simple approach to “Jedi school”. Still, I like this model. I realize Twi’leks don’t have segmented tentacles, but I couldn’t be arsed painting the wrappings… so there.

Diala Passil, Imperial Assault

Character card for reference.

Gideon Argus. Without a doubt my favourite model in the box. THIS guy is a proper bad-ass. Grizzled old veteran who looks very capable in an understated way. It’s my first attempt at dark skin, as far as I can remember (not counting orcs, orange alien lizards and their ilk). Was a bit of a challenge to be honest. The sculpt is a bit unbalance maybe, but it’s a dynamic and fun model. Anything with a flowing cape will get marked up by me! Also, this model is probably what could be best used to represent a mini-me with a much pastier skin tone and a pair of glasses.

Gideon Argus, Imperial Assault

Character card for reference.

That’s five out of the six available rebel heroes available in the base game. I’ll paint the remaining guy together with look, when I buy a booster pack with a few more characters. Now I’ll get on with painting up the imperial models that I can’t proxy with pre-painted WotC Star Wars minis. Hopefully I’ll be able to round up a few warm bodies to sit through the campaign this summer but it’s not the first time I entertain such hopes in vain.

It’s been a long while since I played a game, but today I got the opportunity when fellow Oldhammer Forumite Martin visited from Copenhagen. Since it was our first playdate, we figured something light and easy would compliment the obligatory rummaging through Mount Lead, shuffling through old rule sets and general nerd banter.

We decided to go for Pulp Alley (albeit in space), and I had a scenario half prepared.

Captain Morley and his crew have returned to McKemmler IV with some contraband to unload. In their cargo hold lurks the most recent addition to Morley’s menagerie; an astro badger! Alas, the astro badger somehow manages to escape the Chaste Magpie and skedaddles off into the ruins of Foundation City (the inaugural colony set up when the first colonists came to McKemmler IV). As they set out to find the lost pet, they’re alerted to the presence of another crew. Marty “Balls” Fieldmann and his cronies from the Blacksmith’s crew! What a surprise, considering Astro Badger Crock is the Blacksmith’s favourite dish.

The two groups deployed in opposite corners of the table, for the Trail Of Clues scenario.

Morton “Balls” Fieldmann (hiding in the shrubbery) is joined by sidekick Bodnia and three allies Franke, Tonny and Radovan. The follower “That” have just acted, moving towards the first plot point. I commanded these guys.

Perched on a roof near the Morley crew was Vuk the snitch. If anyone had seen the animal, he’d be one to know.

Near the other gang was an old security droid which (if hacked) could help in tracking the badger down.

Morley and Stickney wasted no time and in their first turn, they charged forward guns blazing. The nameless horror from the rad wastes only known as “That” fell and was knocked out.

Radovan soon repaid in kind, and Bil the radipus was dispatched of.

With one plot point secured, the wasteland raiders started applying some pressure on the battle clones, but they held their own long enough to allow Dawleen to climb the ladders and reach Vuk the snitch.

With neither team managing to secure more than one plot point each, and the game coming to a close, Balls charged Morley for a clash between the two leaders.

Near the end, the gangsters and smugglers can only look on in dismay as one of the plot points wanders off with the much coveted astro badger!

Paulie Papers, ever the opportunist! Only you would be so bold, absconding with the prize right under the nose of the warring factions.

In summary – we had a great time! Plenty of old lead was fondled and oogled, Martin managed to liberate me of some junk… err, treasures I’d been hoarding and an exceedingly even game was enjoyed. Though I did manage to do rather well with the dice for a while, which probably saved my hide more than once. We both lost a single ally and our respective followers. Both of us secured a minor plot point each and neither of us were in a position to try and claim any sort of moral victory over the other. In other words, a perfect introductory game!

Hopefully, we’ll have opportunity to soon revisit McKemmler IV for the next thrilling chapter in the quest for the delectable but ever-elusive astro badger! I have been painting orcs for a rather famous old scenario pack for Warhammer too… it might be we get to play the first scenario from that before we do any more Pulp Alley.